Joe Corvo is fresh off one of his best National Hockey League seasons, and the Boston Bruins are hoping the former Western
Michigan University player can help them repeat as Stanley Cup champions.

The Bruins acquired Corvo, a 34-year-old defenseman best known for his power-play work, on Tuesday from the Carolina Hurricanes
for a fourth-round draft pick in 2012.

Boston general manager Peter Chiarelli targeted Corvo after Tomas Kaberle signed a three-year, $12.75 million contract with
the Hurricanes, the Boston Globe reported.

"He's someone we've talked about over the last little bit as we've progressed on some of these free agent signings," Chiarelli
told the Globe.

"When you go past the free agency date in the first couple days, you look to possible trades if you're not satisfied with
what you've accomplished in free agency. Joe became available as a result — not directly a result — when we did not reach
terms with Tomas Kaberle. We felt very strongly about Joe as a player. "

The eight-year NHL veteran played in all 82 regular-season games last season for Carolina, finishing with 11 goals and 29
assists for a second-best season total of 40 points. Much of that production — five goals and 18 assists — came on the power play.

The website capgeek.com lists Corvo as being in the last year of a contract that pays him $2.25 million annually.

Corvo isn't the only former WMU player who has
changed teams of late. The Chicago Blackhawks acquired winger Jamal
Mayers late last week as part of a plan to add size and grit to a team
that sorely lacked it last season in its Stanley Cup championship
defense.

Mayers had three goals and 11 assists in 78 regular-season games for the San Jose Sharks last season. ESPNChicago.com reported
the 6-foot-1, 214-pounder has been involved in 106 career fights.